Coffee, cocktails, and good food at Caravan Black at BGC’s Net Park

“I drink coffee everyday, but I’m not a very educated drinker,” I told the co-founders of Caravan Black, a specialty coffee shop in Net Park building in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.  

Almost at the same time, Migs Rodriguez, Andrei Aquino, and Rico Serrano shook their heads to make me feel comfortable. 

“You don’t have to know your coffee. What’s important is that it tastes good,” I think it was Migs who said it. 

More than just the coffee, Caravan Black is about the coffee experience. Don’t get me wrong, they serve wonderful coffee (at least according to my uneducated palate), but you know, there is definitely more to the place than the drinks they serve. 

The lighting sets the mood. PHOTO: Caravan Black

The vintage interiors, for example, are played up well with yellow-lit vintage lighting, comfy brown leather armchairs and a Chevron-patterned wall accent made of kamagong. It’s not too crowded, making it an inviting place to read a book or people-watch. 

The founders decided to go for the vintage look because it’s something that “will still look okay” fifty or a hundred years down the line.

“We try to create an environment conducive to whatever coffee experience you are looking for,” said Migs, who is also an interior designer. 

The vibe is undoubtedly vintage. PHOTO: Caravan Black

Caravan Black’s menu was planned based on what would go well with the drinks. This means sandwiches, pasta, and sweets. No rice meals for now.

The genius behind the kitchen is Chef Chiloy Santos, the executive chef of Kettle and Fireside, which are both known for amazing fried chicken. 

“I told Chiloy ‘Let’s not reinvent the wheel too much and let’s just go for the greatest hits and do it well… simple but good’,” Migs said. 

The menu is not too overwhelming. The favorites are the gooey cheese sandwich (PHP275), rose penne with bacon (PHP285), and the fluffy bite-sized pancakes with ice cream and salted caramel (PHP235). 

Spinach Ricotta Pasta (PHP300) PHOTO: Caravan Black

Andrei said that the menu is about 90 percent final. They’re leaving room for experiments, which will allow them to adjust the food according to the customers’ preferences. 

Salted Caramel Pancakes ala Mode (PHP235) PHOTO: Caravan Black

The name Caravan Black was inspired by journey of coffee back in the day, when caravans were used to transport the beans from one country to another. The shop is somewhat like a modern-day caravan, bringing coffee and good cheer to people who need it most. 

At Caravan, there is no “bestseller,” so to speak. Customers are encouraged to choose what they want based on mood, preference and taste. 

Master mixologist Larry Guevarra was brought on board to concoct cocktails that Caravan Black patrons could casually sip like regular coffee even in the workplace. He is known to push for using local ingredients in drinks. The coffee mojito, for example has lambanog. 

The 12 baristas working behind the bar were all trained for at least a year. It’s easy to see that they weren’t just trained to make the drinks. They were confident in explaining how they make the drinks and more importantl, they did their respective tasks with a smile.

Again, emphasis on experience. 

Flat white (PHP155) PHOTO: Caravan Black

“They say it takes 2,000 hours from when the beans are planted, to when it is harvested, processed, roasted and all the way here. Since we’re on the tail end of the process, we don’t want to mess up. If we make a mistake here, it sort of negates what people have done before us,” Migs said. 

There is a geeky science in trying to understand what happens behind the bar. It’s important in keeping the flavors consistent. 

One of their stand out items is the nitro coffee, which starts with a cold brew base but taken to the next level by infusing nitrogen. It’s the perfect choice for people who don’t like the acid taste in coffee. 

“It will give you a feeling that you are drinking a beer because of the creamy mouthfeel,” Migs explained. 

He added, “Of course, the coffee has to be good, food has to be good, service has to be good, the baristas have to be well-trained. At the end of the day, it’s about how our customers perceive us.”

The founders are planning to open a kiosk at the Net Park lobby next year and maybe three other branches sometime in the near future, but they emphasized tht they don’t want to dilute the brand too much. 

I completely understand why. The fact that it’s not available in every mall and every corner is part of Caravan Black’s charm. 

G/F Net Park Building, 5th Avenue, BGC, Taguig; 946 3610, 8am to 10pm (Mon- Fri), 8am – 6pm (Sat-Sun)



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